Electric-railway system



No. 607,6n. Patented July i9, |898.

s. H. sHonT.

`ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM. (Application tiled July 9, 1897.)

(No Model.)

SIDNEY HOWE SHORT, OF CLEVELAND, OIIIO.

' ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,611, dated July 19, 1898. Application tied my 9,1897. sentire. 643,993. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY Hovvn SHORT, a citizen of the United States, -residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Electric-Railway System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates toV electric-railway systems, and is designed as an improvement on my pending application, Serial No. 637,886, filed May 24, 1897.

The obj ect of the present invention is to provide a construction and arrangement wherein the surface contact-s are efficiently insulated and wherein leakage or short-circuiting is avoided.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of parts, as Will be ymore,

fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and nally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure l is a transverse section of a portion of a road-bed, showing the'application of my invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a diagram illus- Y trating the operation of a system embodying the invention.

In my prior application I have shown, described, and claimed a system wherein a current is supplied to translating devices on a car through a conductor arranged, preferably, in a conduit adjacent to the road-bed, and which conductor is tapped at suitable intervals by branches which lead to contacts arranged in or adjacent to the surface of the Vroad-bed in position to be engaged by a contact-shoe carried by the car during the passage thereover. Each of these branches is shown and described as including a pivoted member or lever which is normally held in position to break such branches, and each of such levers forms or carries the armature of an electromagnet, which When energized moves the lever into position to complete the supply-circuit from the supply-conductor to the surface contact in the road-bed, from 5o whence the current is conducted to the translating devices on the car by the contact-shoe carried by the car as the car passes thereover,

the current finally finding ground in any suitable or convenient manner-as, for instance, through the car-Wheel to the rail in the usual manner. Provision is also made whereby the passage of the car completes the circuits of the electromagnets. This is accomplished by providing an auxiliary supply-conductor carrying a current which maybe just sufficient to suitably energize the electromagnet-s, and hence which may be of comparatively loW and harmless potential. This auxiliary conductor is also tapped at intervals by branch conductors similar and corresponding to the branch conductors of the main or supply circuit, and each of which auxiliary branches leads to a surface contact arranged in or adjacent to the road-bed, and included in each of said branches is the electromagnet, the energization of which by the iioW of current through said branches actuates the lever in the main or supply branch to close said supply branch to the surface contact thereof. A contact-shoe carried by the car closes the circuit of said auxiliary branches as the car passes thereover. In the present drawings the same system is shown.

Reference-sign A designates the main supply-generator; B, the main supply-conductor; C, the translating devices on the car D, the

Vrail Which may be utilized as the return-conductor; E, the main supply branches, each of -Which includes a pivoted lever H and a xed contact J, with which said lever engages electrically when the corresponding electromagnet is energized and which contact is in electrical connectionl with a surface contact in the'road-bed. Y

B D are the positive and negative conductors of they auxiliary circuit, E' the auxiliary branches, and M the electromagnet included in said auxiliary branches N is the contact-shoe carried by the car and which is arranged to complete the circuit between the positive and negative conductors of the auxiliary circuit through three or more of the auxiliary branches simultaneously, whereby the main supply-circuit is completed to a plurality of the road-bed surface contacts in the main supply branches.

O is the contact-shoe carried by the car for IOO completing the supply-circuit from said roadbed surface contacts through the translating devices on the car.

In an electric-railway system such as is above described it will be seen that the two series of surface contacts arranged in the road-bed, although constantly exposed, are perfectly harmless for the reason that in the case of the terminal contacts of the main supply bran ches, which are designed to carry heavy and dangerous currents, are included in branch circuits, which are normally broken and which are closed to such surface contacts only when the electromagnets of the correspondin g and cooperating auxiliary branches are energized. In the case of the surface terminals of the auxiliary branches it Will be observed that each surface contact or terminal is connected with only one of the conducting-wires of the auxiliary circuit, and as in practice the next adjacent surface contact in the same series is designed to be several feet removed therefrom the danger of accidentally completing an auxiliary branch circuit is reduced to a minimum. Moreover, the auxiliary circuit carries a current of small potential, as above explained, and which is harmless. The greatest danger, however, is in completing a circuit through an auxiliary branch, as by means of water covering the surface of the road-bed or dirt or other matter surrounding the terminals of such auxiliary branches, thereby causing such auxiliary branch electromagnets to become energized, and hence actuating the switch-lever in the corresponding main branch to close said main branch to its corresponding surface contact, thus resulting in an exposed contact charged with a heavy and dangerous current. Another danger and source of loss of efficiency in the system is the leakage in and around the surface contacts during the time the circuits are completed to said contacts by reason of accumulation of dirt, foreign matter, dampness, or water collecting in and around such contacts. In order to avoid these objections, I provide in the roadway at points where the surface contacts are located a box or casing A2 in which are located the supports for the surface contacts, the lever H of the main or supply branch E, and the electromagnet M of the corresponding auxiliary branch E. This box or casing A2 may be arranged, as shown, in a suitable seat prepared therefor in the road-bed and suitably bolted to the tie C2 and having its top flush with the surface of the road-bed. Thetop of the box or casing A2 is provided with an enlarged opening B2 therethrough, adapted to receive the contact E2, which is arranged to project slightly above the top surface of the box or casing A2. The contact E2 is of smaller size than the opening B2, whereby a passage is provided all the way aroundv said contact and between the same and the walls of the opening through the top of the box or casing A2. I have shown a simple and efficient manner of mounting the contact E2, whereby said contact is thoroughly insulated and wherein I suitably bolt or otherwise secure a standard D2 to the floor of the casing or box A2 and mount on the upper end thereof the contact. This contact is preferably in the form of an inverted bell, which may be filled with cement or other suitable insulating material F2, in which is embedded the upper or free end of the standard D2, as clearly shown in Fig. l. The inverted-bell-shaped contact E2 may be of any suitable conducting material and is in electrical connection with its corresponding branch conductor.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple construction wherein the surface contact isY entirely surrounded by an air-space, thus avoiding leakage when the circuit is coinpleted thereto and wherein any water which might be deposited on the road-bed by rain or otherwise will readily pass through the opening B2 and into the casing or box A2 and from thence through a suitable passage G2, leading from the bottom of such casing into a convenient sewer H2. Thus a drain is provided whereby the water is conducted off the road-bed, and hence all danger of establishing a circuit between adjacent contacts in the series of branch auxiliary conductors or from a live main supply-contact is entirely avoided.

While I have shown and described the present invention as applied to surface contacts of the main or supply branches, it is to be understood that the same construction may be applied to the surface contacts J2 of the auxiliary branches, as indicated in Fig. l. Specific and detailed illustration thereof, however, is omitted herein since the construction is the same as that above described.

The supply-conductor and also the wires forming the auxiliary circuit may be carried in underground conduits or casings K2 in the usual manner, as shown.

If desired, the boxes or casings A2 may be provided with manholes covered by the usual removable coverings L2, whereby access may be readily had to the said box or casing.

IIaving now set forth the object and nature of my invention and an embodiment of the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In an electric-railway system a road-bed, a box or casing arranged therein and having an opening in the top thereof and a surface contact of smaller size than said opening, and arranged to project therethrough, in combination with a circuit for said contact, and

IOO

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means carried by the car for completing the circuit through said contact, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric-railway system aroad-bed, a box or casing arranged therein and having the top thereof flush with the surface of the road-bed, an opening being formed in the top of said box or casing, in combination with an insulated contact arranged to project through but of smaller size than said opening, a circuit including said contact and means for completing the circuit through said contact, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric-railway system a road-bed, asewer or drain pipe, abox or casing arranged in said road-bed and in communication with said sewer or drain pipe', the top of said box or casing having an opening therein, a contact of smaller size than said opening arranged to project therethrough, a circuit for said contact and means for completing said circuit through said contact, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electric-railway system a road-bed,

a box or casing mounted thereon, a sewer or drain pipe with which said box or casing communicates, an opening in the top of said box or casing, a standard mounted in said boxor casing in line with said opening, a contact mounted thereon and arranged to project through said opening, va circuit for said contact and means for completing the circuit through said contact, as Vand for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination a road-bed, a drain or sewer, a box or casing communicating therewith, a contact mounted in said box or casing but insulated therefrom, and arranged to project through the top thereof and out of contact therewith, a circuit including said contact, and means for completing said circuit through said contact, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination, a road-bed, a box or casing having an opening in the top thereof, a sewer or drain pipe with which said box or casing communicates, a standard mounted in said box or .casing in line with said opening, a contact mounted thereon but insulated therefrom, and arranged to project through said opening, said contact being of smaller size than said opening, a circuit including said contact and means for completing said circuit through said contact, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In combination, a road-bed, abox or casing having an opening in the top thereof, a sewer or drain pipe with which said box-or casing communicates, a standard mounted in said box or casing in line with said opening, an inverted-bell-shaped contact mounted on but insulated from the upper end of said standard, said contact being of smaller size than said opening and arrangedto project therethrough, a circuit including said contact and means carried by thecar for completing the circuit through said contact, as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 2d day of July, 1897, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

SIDNEY IIOVE SHORT.

Attest:

'M A. KENSINGER,

J oHN J. BEVER. 

